Diverter valve with o ring seal



Dec. 16, l952 F. H. MELJELLER 2,621,886

DIVERTER VALVE WITH O RING ,SEAL

Filed Jan. 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 CLOSED OPE/V 22 [23 (23 22 25 7 25 27 l Ill.

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Dec. 16, 1952 F. H. MUELLER 2,621,886

DIVERTER VALVE WITH O RING SEAL.

Filed Jan. 27 1949 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 ATTORN EYS Patented Dec. 16, 1952 niviin'rnn vAL-vE Wrrno RING SEAL Frank H. Muellexz Decatur, Ill.,-as,s ign or to' Mueller Co., Decatur, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,0128

1 claim.. l

This invention relates to rotary plug valves, particularly to rotary plug angle valves, and has for an object the provision of avalve employing a sealing ring disposed diagonally to the plug in a plane intersecting the ilow of uid through the valve.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary plug angle valve of simplified construction, adapted for use in a high pressure fluid line.

A further object is to provide a rotary plug switch valve of simplified construction, employing a diagonally disposed sealing ring.

A still further object is the provision of a rotary plug valve for changing the direction of ow of fluid under pressure through an angle of approximately 90, employing a sealing ring disposed diagonally to the plug.

Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a section through a preferred embodiment of the rotary plug angle valve of this invention, showing the plug in closed position;

Figure 2 is a section corresponding to Figure 1, but showing the plug in open position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged section corresponding to Figure 1, but showing the plug in intermediate position;

Figure 4 is a section through a switch valve embodying the principle of the present invention, and

Figure 5 is a section through a switch valve conforming generally to that of Figure 4, but modied by the provision of a sealing member of cage-like configuration.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a rotary plug angle Valve comprising the valve body i9 having the longitudinal bore II therethrough, and the lateral outlet port I2 communicating with bore II, preferably at right angles thereto. Rotatably mounted in fbore II is the tubular plug I3, provided with the closed end I4 and the opposite open end I 5.' Plug I3 also comprises the lateral port I6, and the inlet port I'I, defined by the open end I5. The plug I3 is provided between lateral port I6 and the closed end I 4 thereof with the shoulder I8, maintained in seating engagement with the internal seat I9 of body IIJ by the retainer ring y20, in retaining engagement with the open end I5 of plugv I3.

Retainer ring 2l) is suitably aiiixed tobody Ill adjacent open end I5, as by the screw thread 2 2|. disposed, and shoulder IB and port Itso spaced on the plug I 3, as to positiony the port I6Hfo`r registry with outlet port I2 when the plugisein open position.

The closed end I 4 of plug- I3 preferably extends beyond body I0,` and comprises the operating-stud 22, to which the valve handle 23 is suitably 'se-4 cured. The boss 2li may extend from handlel 23; adapted to engage the` stops 25, extendingfrom body I il and positionedto limit the rotation of' handle 23 .and plug I3 to an arc of substantially one end of which marks complete registration of plug port I6. with outlet port I2, corresponding to full open position of the valve. The

the retainer ring groove 29:` To limit theA extent of entry into body Ill, retainer ring 2li may be provided with the outstanding collar 30;A positioned and adapted to Ibear upon the adjacent end of body I 0. Suitable means, such as thepipe 3|, is provided in communicationl with inlet port I1 of the plug I3 for the introduction ofpres'- sure fluid thereinto, preferably in threaded engagement Vwith the internal thread, 32 of retainer ring 20, and the outlet pipe 33 may extend from outlet port I2, threaded into the screw thread Slithereof, or -otherwise suitablyaffixed.-

In the surface of bore II isprovidedthe diagonal groove 35, encircling thea-xfs of outlet port I2 in arplane disposed to pass between the outlet port I2 and inlet port I1 ofthe plug; I3. In this position, it will be seen, the plane ofv groove 35A intersects the the valve. Retained in groove 35 in sealing en-` gagement with plug, I3 is the4 resilient O-ring or sealing ring 36,' made of, rubber or similarly suitable resilient material.

of a diameter slightlyexceeding. the depthnof groove 3,5, so that the sealing ring is normally under slight compression betweenv the walls ofv It is to be particularly.

It will be noted that thevbore seat I9 4is sopath ofl flow through:

Sealing ring 3f6'i-s; preferably of circular or oval cross-section, and.

be round nor oval, but may be of square, polygonal or other shape or configuration, the effectiveness thereof residing principally in its disposition within the body I0. Similarly, the groove 35 is preferably of square or rectangular cross-section, but may be of triangular or other cross-sectional configuration.

The functioning of the valve will now be described in detail. Fluid under pressure is admitted through pipe 3l to inlet port I1 of plug I3, in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. The plug I3 and bore II being cylindrical, a slight clearance necessarily exists between them by reason of manufacturing tolerances, which enables the pressure fluid to reach the groove 35. With the plug in closed position, as shown in Figure 1, the fluid acts from below in the direction of the axis of plug I3 to compress the resilient sealing ring 36 against the upper or far wall of the groove 35, expanding sealing ring 36 laterally to form an effective seal between body I and plug I3. With the plug in this position, it will be readily seen, the diagonal disposition of the sealing ring prevents leakage of pressure fluid to outlet port I2.

The valve is adapted for use with pressures ranging from a few pounds per square inch to extremely high pressures, of the order of five thousand pounds per square inch or more, the maximum feasible pressure being determined primarily by the strength of the valve body and the connections thereto. The higher the pressure in inlet port II, the greater will be the force compressing sealing ring 36, and the more effective the seal thereof. The effectiveness of the seal may be enhanced by lubricating the groove 35 and sealing ring 3S, preferably with a heavy grease. The friction of the seal has been found to be considerably less than that of compression packing elements capable of holding comparable pressures.

With the plug in the open position shown in Figure 2, the pressure fluid readily passes through inlet port I'I and plug I3 to the lateral port I6, now in registry with outlet port I2, and through the lateral port and outlet port, as indicated by the arrow, the direction of flow having changed approximately 90. In this position, pressure is substantially equalized on opposite sides of the sealing ring 36, and the sealing ring assumes a relaxed position substantially central of the groove 35.

In revolving 180 from closed to open position, the plug port I5, it will be apparent, must traverse the sealing ring 35, as clearly shown in Figure 3. With the plug port moving from left to right, as shown, corresponding to clockwise rotation of the handle 23, the sealing ring is first exposed by the leading edge of port I8 when the edge of the port adjacent bore II is in the dotted line position A. With the plug port in this position, the exposed portion of the sealing ring is caused by its own internal pressure to distend or protrude slightly into the port. rIhis tendency is, however, opposed by the full lateral force of the pressure fluid in the plug. The same conditions obtain when the plug port has partially traversed the ring, in the solid line position of Figure 3. When the edge of the plug port adjacent bore II reaches the dotted line position B, however, the full force of the pressure fluid is brought to bear upon that section of the sealing ring still exposed by the trailing edge of the port, forcing the exposed section of the ring back into the groove and allowing the trailing edge of the port to pass easily thereover, without damaging contact.

In rotating in the reverse direction, from open to closed position, the same conditions recur. in opposite sequence. With the outer edge of the plug port in position B, the section of the ring exposed by the leading edge of the port tends to expand and protrude slightly thereinto. When the outer edge of the plug port has reached the position A, however, immediately prior to effecting a complete seal, the full lateral pressure of the fluid in the plug is brought to bear upon that section of the ring still exposed by the trailing edge of the port, and the ring is effectively forced back into the groove, enabling the trailing edge of the port to glide easily thereover and complete the seal, without damaging contact with the ring.

As will be evident, the valve operates in the same manner whether the direction of rotation of the plug be clockwise or counter-clockwise. The plug, therefore, may be operated by rotation always in the same direction, or, if desired, its operative movement may be limited to an arc of as by the stops 25, in the manner previously described. The valve is not adapted to the passage of pressure fluid. therethrough in the direction opposite to that indicated, and reversal of the direction of pressure will result in destruction of the sealing ring the first time the valve is closed. Should pressure fluid be admitted to the outlet port I2 rather than the inlet port I'I, the sealing ring when traversed by the plug port IG in moving from open to closed position will not only expand due to its own internal pressure, but the pressure fluid reaching the groove 35 from the outlet port IZ will forcibly cause the ring to bulge out into the then low pressure plug port, a consequence which will be magnified as the trailing edge of the port approaches the ring, and the resulting bulge will be sheared off or severely damaged by passage of the trailing edge thereover, destroying the effectiveness of the sealing ring.

The sealing rings 253 and 28 are desirably of the same type as the resilient sealing ring 36, and function by leakage of pressure fluid within the valve body thereto, to seal the valve body and prevent leakage therepast. Pressure fluid may reach the sealing ring 23 by passage along the crew thread 2i, with the plug in any position, and is contained by the lateral expansion of the ring 28 to form an effective seal, in the manner previously described. With the plug in open position, pressure fluid passes along the surface of the plug to the sealing ring 26, which is thereby expanded laterally into sealing relationship with the valve body to prevent leakage of fluid to the exterior of the body.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 4, wherein is shown a switch valve provided with two radially spaced outlet ports I2 in the valve body I0. The outlet ports I2 preferably are oppositely disposed and have a common axis, so that the plug port I5 moves out of registry with one and into registry with the other by rotation through 180. The diagonal groove 35 and the resilient sealing ring 35 are disposed as previously described, encircling the axis of one of said outlet ports in a plane lying between said outlet port and the inlet port II. The resilient sealing ring functions as described in connection with the previous modification, and, it will be seen, with the plug port I6 in registry with the outlet port I2 lying on the same side of the plane or sealing ring 36 as does the inlet port, effectively prevents the leakage of fluid to the other outlet port l2. When the plug port I6 is in registry with the outlet port i2, however, it will be seen that the sealing ring does not function to prevent the leakage of pressure fluid to outlet port i2. To prevent this leakage, the additional annular sealing ring 37 is provided between body I8 and plug I3 adjacent the open end l5, conveniently in the groove 38 in the surface of bore i i. The sealing ring 3l is desirably of the same type as the sealing ring 36, and functions in the same manner, effectively sealing off the outlet port i 2 when plug port l 8 is in registry with outlet port l2. Obviously, more than two outlet ports l2 may be provided, if desired,

A still further modification is shown in Figure 5, wherein a switch valve conforming generally to that of Figure 4 is shown, the bore thereof, however, being provided with two intersecting diagonal grooves 35, one of them lying in a plane between inlet port i7 and the outlet port I2', and the other in a plane between inlet port l1 and the outlet port l2. The integral resilient sealing member 39, of cage-like conguration, conforming generally to the shape of the intersecting grooves 35, is retained in the grooves. The sealing member 39 functions in the same manner as does the resilient sealing ring 33 previously described, and effectively seals off the outlet port i2 or I2 not in registry with the port I8. The conguration of the intersecting diagonal grooves 35 and the sealing member 39, it will be readily seen, obviates the necessity for the groove 38 and the sealing ring 3l provided in the modication of Figure 4.

The switch valves of Figures 4 and 5, in common with the valve of Figures 1 to 3, are not adapted to the passage of pressure fluid therethrough in a direction opposite to that indicated. The admission of pressure fluid to either of the outlet ports I2' or I2 will result in destruction of the sealing ring 38 in the case of the valve of Figure 4, and of the sealing member 39 in the case of the valve of Figure 5, when the plug is rotated 180 in either direction. The behavior of the sealing ring or sealing member in this case is substantially identical to that described in connection with the valve of Figures l to3, pressure in a lateral outlet port causing the sealing ring or member to bulge out into the port I6 when traversed thereby, preventing the trailing edge of the port from passing thereover without damage thereto.

It will thus be seen, that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from thescope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted :as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

An angle valve for controlling the-.ow of iiuid under pressure, comprising a valve body having a longitudinal bore therethrough-'and two opposed lateral outlet ports communicating lwith said bore, a tubular plug rotatably mounted in said bore, said plug having a lateral portpositioned for successive registry with each .of said outlet ports in the course of a revolution of said plug.. one end of said plug being closed-and the other end being open and constituting; an inlet port, a diagonally disposed groove in fthe ,wall of said bore encircling the axis of one of said outlet ports in a plane lying between said outlet port and said inlet port, a resilient Sealing ring in` said groove, a sealing ring between said -plug and said body adjacent and spaced from the open end of said plug, and means in communication with said inlet port for introducing iuid under pressure thereinto.

FRANK H. MUELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 862,825 Kleren Aug. 6, 1907 1,243,237 Wood Oct. 16, 1917 1,554,470 Trumble Sept. 22,1925 2,433,732 Brown Dec..30., 1947 2,484,723 Pain Oct. 11, 1949 2,505,951 Feaster May 2, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 3,184 Great Britain of ,1884 9,032 Great Britain of 1889 237,463 Switzerland ofj1943 710,360 France of 1931 

